He tipped her on the shoulder, and speaking soft, and low,
"O what on earth possesses you, to pray upon the snow."
She told him all her story then, and why so kneeling there,
She told him of her sorrowed heart, the object of her prayer,
She told him of her soldier lad, so far across the sea,
"I'd like to be a soldier lad, with you to love!" said he.
Said he "You're very lonely: If you have need to pray,
I'll come agrah! and help you, with 'Amens' if I may,
It's very hard acushla! to pray alone each night,"
And the colleen shyly answered, "She thought perhaps he might."